Mizoram organisation to ‘seal’ Myanmar border after killing of villagers

An organisation in Mizoram’s Siaha district on March 29 decided to ‘seal’ the border with Myanmar to prevent citizens of that country from crossing over. The decision follows the killing of three villagers from Mizoram in Myanmar. Mizoram shares a 510-km border with Myanmar. The Mara Thyutlia Pi, an organisation of Mara tribal people, said locals would ensure people from Myanmar do not cross over to Mizoram.

GUWAHATI

An organisation in Mizoram’s Siaha district on March 29 decided to ‘seal’ the border with Myanmar to prevent citizens of that country from crossing over. The decision follows the killing of three villagers from Mizoram in Myanmar. Mizoram shares a 510-km border with Myanmar.

The Mara Thyutlia Pi, an organisation of Mara tribal people, said locals would ensure people from Myanmar do not cross over to Mizoram.

The Central Young Lai Association (CYLA), a community-based organisation of the Lai tribe in the adjoining Lawngtlai district has also warned of a similar step if miscreants in Myanmar do not stop targeting people of Mizoram.

People on either side of the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border are allowed to move within a 32-km band – 16 km on either side of the line dividing the two countries – despite certain restrictions owing to the civil war in Myanmar.

“We have given refuge to people who escaped the ongoing civil war in Myanmar. But if our people get killed in Myanmar, there can be undesirable repercussions,” the CYLA said in a statement.

Some 40,000 people from Myanmar, including lawmakers and officials, have taken shelter in Mizoram since the military coup in February 2021.